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J. SUYDAM.

(No Model.)

FENCE.

No. 342,765. Patented May 25 1886.

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NITED STATES JOHN SUYDAM, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOB. F. PORTER, OF SAME PLACE.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION` forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,765., dated May25, 1836.

Application filed March 17, 1885.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN SUYDAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences, of whichthefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fences; and the object of myinvention is to provide a simple and effective device for connecting thedifferent sections of a fence together in such a manner that the railsthereof will be capable of a slight longitudinal movement to compensatefor the contraction or expansion of said rails.

My invention consists in the constructions and combinations of parts, ashereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a fenceembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view oftheconnecting-piece in detail, said connectingpiece being shown in aninverted position to show themanner of connecting the ends of the railsthereto. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view ofthe connecting-piece,showing the vlinepost and the ends of the respective rail-sectionstherein. Fig. 4 is a view showing a modification of the device adaptedto connect the end of the rail to the main posts. Figs. 5 and 6 aremodifications, which will be referred to hereinafter.

Like parts are referred to by similar letters of reference throughoutthe several views.

In said drawings, A A A represent the respective rails of the fence; B,one of the main posts, and C one of the line-posts. The rails A are madein sections, which are adapted to be connected together at therespective lineposts by a connecting piece or clip, D. The connectingpiece or clip D consists of a top plate, a, provided with an openingadapted to receive the line-post C, which slides through said plate. Theplate a is provided on the lower side with parallel side pieces, c c,between which the ends of the rails A are adapted to fit, said railsbeing thus held against lateral movement in the connecting-clip.

To secure the rails iirmly in place in the connecting-clip and at thesame time provide for the expansion and contraction of the rails, Iprovide the connecting-clip with T-shaped depen-ding lugs or studs (lcl, which depend fro/m the top plate, c, on each side of the opening band midway between the side pieces, c c. The ends'of the rail-sectionsare each provided with a slotted opening, e, adapted to movelongitudinally on the studs d d. These slotted openings e are preferablymade of a width equal to the thickness of the neck or lower part of thestuds d, and are each'provided at one end with an enlarged portion, e',adapted to slip over the heads of the studs cl, so that the rails aresecurely attached to the connecting-clip when the studs ,are drawnintothe narrow part of the slotted opening. The enlarged opening e is soplaced in each rail-section in relation to the end thereof that when theline post or rod C is slipped through the opening b the. longitudinalmovement of the rail is so limited that theenlarged part e of theopening e cannot be brought oppositethe head of the depending studs d,so that the rails cannot be detached therefrom until the rod or post Cis removed. i

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form-of my device, in which anauxiliary or locking A plate, f, is used to secure the rail-sections. Inthis case the rails are provided with slotted openings of an equal sizethroughout and large enough to pass over the studs d cl. The studs aremade long enough to project through the rail, and are engaged by slottedopenings in the plate f, which are provided with enlarged parts. Theplate j' is also providedwith an opening adapted to receive the rod Cwhen the said plate is in a position to engage the studs cl cl. Meansare provided for holding the rod or post C against longitudinal movementthrough the clip D, a set-screw, g, being preferably used for thispurpose,as shown. y

In securing the ends of the rails to the end or permanent posts Ipreferably use a construction such as shown in Fig. 4, in which a key,h, is used for limiting the longitudinal movement of the rail, so thatit may not become detached, the said key being also adapted to securethe connecting-clip to the post.

The depending lugs may be cast solid with the connecting-clip D, or theymay be made separate andriveted thereon. If desired, the studs may becast straight and in one piece with the plate a, and ,the headsafterward formed thereon by casting the studs with a slot therein andafterward bending down the respective sides of said slot to form thehead, as indicated in Fig. 5. When thus constructed, the molding of theclips, which will be preferably cast of malleable iron, will be a simplematter. It will be seen that this connection may be used for connectingrail-sections of various shapes, the different sections being readilyconnected and securely held together thereby without theY use of boltsor screws of `any kind, and in such a manner as to compensate for thecontraction or expansion of the rails.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, withthe rails ofa fence made in sections, of a connecting clip or piecehaving an opening therein, and provided with Tlshaped depending lugsadapted to project through slotted openings in the ends of the rails,and a line-post adapted to be inserted through the openings in the saidconnectingclip and lock the ends of the rails therein, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination, with the rails of a sectional fence, of aconnecting-clip having de- 'pending T-shaped lugs thereon, said railsbeing provided with slotted openings of an nnequal width adapted to slipover said lugs and be drawn under the head thereof', and means forlimiting the longitudinal movement of the said rails, substantially asspecified.

3. The combination, with the rails of a sectional fence,ofaconnecting-clip provided with depending T'shaped lugs, slottedopenings in the ends of said rails provided with an en largement thereinto slip over the' heads of said lugs, and a rod or post adapted to beinserted transversely through said connectingclip and limit thelongitudinal movement of the said rails, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the connectingclip provided with dependingT-shaped lugs, ofv the rail-sections, each provided with slottedopenings having an enlargement therein to slip over said studs, a rod orpost adapted to be inserted transversely through said clip and limit thelongitudinal movement of the said rails, and means for securing the saidpost against longitudinal movement through the clip, substantially asspecified.

5. The combination, with the connectingclip D, having top plate, a, sidepieces, c o,

opening b, and depending lugsdd, of the rails A, provided with slottedopenings e with enlargement e', and the rod or postv C.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th dayof March,A. D. 1885.

JOHN SUYDAM.

\Vitnesses:

B. F. PORTER,l CHASE STEWART.

